Afternoon:
9°c
BORIS Johnson is planning to double the number of sites for travellers and gipsies across London, the Standard has learned.
Nearly 800 caravan pitches will be created in the next eight years, taking the number of permanent pitches to almost 1,500.
Councils will have to decide whether to expand sites or build encampments, but a report commissioned by the GLA for the London boroughs said it was likely that between 37 and 55 sites would be created.
The plan, part of the Mayor's draft housing strategy, is likely to provoke furious reactions. The Mayor has consulted the boroughs, gipsies and travellers and the scheme will become part of the London Plan, which will be published later this year.
Mr Johnson argues that he has been forced to improve traveller accommodation by central Government.
Most of the accommodation is to be in Bromley, Ealing, Bexley, Hillingdon and Haringey, with only the City and Westminster avoiding having any extra pitches.
An investigation into traveller accommodation by London Councils, which represents the borough authorities, found 15 per cent of caravans were on unauthorised land and facilities were inadequate. Mr Johnson's draft housing strategy states: "The 2008 London gypsy and traveller accommodation needs assessment, produced by the London boroughs with the co-operation of the GLA, demonstrates the need for 768 residential pitches over the next ten years, more than doubling the number of pitches. Much of this need arises from gipsies and travellers currently housed in unsuitable or poor quality accommodation."
The last site was built in 1996 while council-owned facilities have closed. There are an estimated 13,500 gipsy and traveller families in London, with 84 per cent living in purpose-built homes on the sites.
The shortage of caravan pitches was discovered by council officials carrying out a survey of accommodation required by Whitehall. Their finding forces all London local authorities to increase provision, as they are legally obliged to provide adequate sites.
Senior sources at City Hall said the need to dramatically expand sites was a "political hand grenade". It would be especially damaging for a Conservative Mayor to order more sites in suburban Tory constituencies.
A source close to the Mayor said: "There's a distinct feeling we have been painted into a corner here. No one wants to be seen to be forcing boroughs to suddenly have to have lots more travellers and people were getting rather worked up about it. But it has to be in the London Plan as ordered by the Government."
Travellers groups said the pitches were badly needed. Freda Schicker, director of the London Gipsy Traveller unit, said: "We have people who have been waiting lists for years and years and can only get rented housing.
"We would prefer to see smaller new sites as they tend to raise the least objection, preferably near services and shops and on quiet roads."
If a borough refuses to comply the Government could take it to court.
Reader views (27)
maybe if people could give us a chance to settle on sites it would give our children the education they need to get on in life,then you hipacrits could find somone else to judge and condem shame on you.
- Mary Price, nottingham,notts, 29/09/2009 22:48
Report abuse
Boris says the central government is making him do it. So, hold on, Boris. How much longer do you think this dreadful Labour government is still going to be around. Once your fellow Tories get in we can see some commonsense again. So relax. Push this through at your peril.
- Js, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Maybe Boris would like to accommodate some of the so-called travellers in his his back garden if he cares so much for their welfare. If there's so much wasteland, why not build homes for the taxpayers on it, or don't we have any rights?? Just them!!
- Maureen Cohen, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Perhaps we could put them in Borises back garden if he considers them so cuddly. Also, would people stop reffering to them as "travellers", they're not, they stick up their caravan on a fixed site for 50 years, what part of that makes them travel exactly?
- Bob, Cheam, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Absolutely disgusting. I hope the government will be compensating the Mayor for the inevitable increase in crime as a result. And who cares if many of these people have been on waiting lists and live in rented accommodation? I pay council tax, work and don't cause havoc everywhere I go and I have to rent.
- Gareth, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
As long as the people staying at these sites pay council tax (pro rata) then there is no problem.............
- Lily, North of the Watford Gap, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
So Boris wants to double the crime rate in the city then?
ven the Government of Ireland do not recognize Travellers as an ethnic group which limits the protection available to Travellers under National, European and International law. That is why they are over here abusing our systems.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
More "do as you likeys". They do want they want & live where they want anyway, so why make more places available?
- Dom, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Good on yer Boris, don't let these nimby'ists play the Euro card. You won't be around as Mayor in a couple of years, so give 'em something to remember.
- William, Red Hill UK, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
'This is entirely down to Central Govt. All site should be in areas containing Labour politicians/cronies/luvvies. Start with Primrose Hill, Islington and Crouch End.'
Perhaps brown thinks that they'll vote labour!!
- Chris, Brighton, England, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
I would like to see Caravan Sites all over London for the Cockneys to use, and set up home; instead of going to Southend etc.
Cockneys, like Gypsies, are a repressed minority and should be treated equally by the Mayor of London; especially as Cockneys were actually born in London.
Why are Cockneys discriminated against?
And why can’t we have our own camp sites as well?
- Mickyinlondon, london, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
How about the government allocate them a nice rural pitch in the outer hebridees away from anyone else. If they want to be travellers then that should suit them down to the ground. If they want to live in the capital city then I suggest they rent a house, joing the ouncil house waiting list and start paying taxes.
- Ag, London Village, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Why does he want to do this I wonder.Does he not recognise that London is already overcrowded? The current level of immigrants is already putting enormous pressure on schools, hospitals and housing. The infra structure simple cannot cope with more people.
- Watson, London UK, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
This is entirely down to Central Govt. The headline is misleading. All site should be in areas containing Labour politicians/cronies/luvvies. Start with Primrose Hill, Islington and Crouch End.
- Danny, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
There are lots of subtly racist comments here especially about "crime" and "spongers". How about considering that average life expectancy is 12 years less for women and 10 years less for men than non gypsies, and 18% of gypsy mothers have experienced the death of a child and there is a high level of underachievement. We have not provided enough places for gypsies to live that's why they are disadvantaged and living in places they are not supposed to be - that creates far more problems than providing proper and well managed places for them to live.
- Chris, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Londoners should not worry to much about these proposed new gypsy camps, i have it on good authority these people do not like London campsites because they are fairly small and therefore easier for the local councils and police to monitor them, also Londoners do not put up with their shenanigans, unlike the local authorities and people in the shires.
- David, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
I do not know of any city that has thrived when it increased its low/zero income housing.
- Trunk, US, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Everyone needs to live somewhere & councils have a legal and moral obligation to provide sites with sanitary provisions for these people and school places for their children. Apart from an irrational dislike for gypsy’s what is there to fear? There is a site half a mile from where I live and it causes so little inconvenience I didn’t even know it was there for the first 2 years, wish I could say the same for some of my other neighbours.
- Pc And Proud, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Why should we provide any gypsy sites? If anyone wants to live in a caravan they can go to a caravan park.
- Bob, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Boris forced by central government? Yet last site was in 1996 thats 4 years before the position of Mayor was created and is thus 13 years ago!
Funny how Ken never had to provide sites in his 8 years and now Boris is falling over himself to provide sites. Did he tell anyone about his keeness for gypsy sites during the Mayoral campaign?
Given their eagerness to vote for Boris I reckon outer London boroughs will welcome these new neighbours with open arms?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
This really incenses me, how nice for Boris to suggest this as it will not affect him...if these people are travellers they dont need permanent sites...if they want a permaent home let them apply to the council in the usual way and be means tested...oh I forgot to much trouble.The sooner the authorities bring these travellers to book by having them produce accounts for their earnings...they all have large expensive vehicles and homes..let them account how they came by their cash...this trailer trash are a scourge on society.
- Rosie, watford, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Boris, show some backbone and stand up to the goverment.
- Mat, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
There seems to be quite a lot of space around Bingo Boris's office palace. A few caravans there and some tasteful flower pots will make all the difference. I would advise Boris to take his bicycle with him up in the lift though.
- Fred, Horsham, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
1. Dont need permanent homes ? Oh yea? Continually being evicted and moved on from tradition sites means legal sites are needed. They are cheaper than evictions and rent is paid like in all the existing legal sites.
2. Go to caravan parks? Can't. Parks cater for single and retired people. Not families with their own caravans and in need of parking spaces for working vans.
3. Get council houses ? Tell me the council without a long waiting list.Anyway,if Gypsies prefer to live in caravans they pay for and pay for the site rental plus council tax and utilities what is the problem? Many non Gypsies live in chalets and caravans.
4. Worried they dont pay tax on income ? Easier to check up on them on legal permanent sites than continually moving.
5. Anti social problems ? No better or worse than the rest of us. Call the police and report them to the council. That can lead to court and eviction.
6. Because they are continually moving many Gypsies do not have bank accounts. All their saving and wealth is tied up in their caravans and transport. We have ours in the bank and bricks and mortar.
I dont like or dislike Gypsies. I just dont like all the lies told about them. Stick to facts and some of your letter might be worth reading.
- Tax Payer, London, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
maybe these sites could also accommodate the 6,000 illegal asylum seekers in London?
I suggets that when the olympic games are over Boris donates the accommodation as gypsy accommodation
- A Trebilcock, Manchester uk, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
If you don't like what your elected representatives are doing, vote them out of office.
But if you don't vote; you can't complain.
- Not-A-Lib-Lab-Con-Voter, Lancashire, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
Thank heavens you stupid Londoner's are so left wing. We dont have any travellers in Bury and our town is a damn sight better for it. So long as you mugs pander to these people they will keep on coming - and thus avoiding my lovely town.
Thank you all so much!
- Ha Ha Ha, Bury St Edmunds, 29/09/2009 21:48
Report abuse
